Former RAW chief says India failed to isolate Pakistan diplomatically

ISLAMABAD: Former Research and Analysis Wing chief A.S. Dulat has said India was unable to achieve its long-standing objective of diplomatically isolating Pakistan at the international level despite repeatedly advancing a terrorism-related narrative.

In an interview with a British news channel, Dulat said India had tried from the outset to push Pakistan into global isolation, but those efforts did not succeed even with international lobbying, available resources and proxy channels.

Relations between Pakistan and India have remained largely frozen in recent years, with diplomatic engagement stalled between the two neighbours. The two countries have also seen border clashes as well as a brief 87-hour conflict last year.

In May 2025, during that 87-hour conflict, Pakistan shot down eight Indian fighter aircraft — four French-made Rafale jets, one Su-30, one MiG-29, one Mirage 2000 and one expensive multi-role unmanned aerial system — in addition to dozens of drones.

The fighting between the two nuclear-armed states ended on May 10 after a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

Pakistan later emerged as a regional stabilising force after the military confrontation, serving as a mediator between the United States and Iran and helping secure a fragile 14-day ceasefire that was later extended.

Dulat’s remarks on Pakistan and the region

During the interview, Dulat said there was a mistaken belief in India that Pakistan would eventually break apart, adding that the country would never disintegrate.

He also said the broader regional environment indicated that India itself was increasingly confronting diplomatic and political isolation.

Referring to Pakistan’s military leadership, Dulat said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was receiving growing international recognition and attention. He further claimed that the US president had referred to Field Marshal Munir as his "favourite field marshal".

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Munir after the ceasefire was brokered and after Pakistan hosted negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Dulat also said Pakistan’s balanced, active and responsible diplomatic engagement in a mediatory role had improved its standing in the international community.

Comments on Kashmir

Speaking about Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the former intelligence chief said a less visible aspect of the issue was the continuing unrest, uncertainty and sense of deprivation among the people there.

His remarks come at a time when Pakistan-India ties remain strained and formal diplomatic engagement between the two countries continues to be stalled.